Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Delhi Approves Reserved Forest Status for Northern Ridge Land
Delhi has approved stronger legal protection for 112.3 hectares of the Northern Ridge.
This means the land will be designated as a reserved forest under a forest law.
However, 8.61 hectares of demarcated land were left out of this notification.
Records say more than 2,073 hectares across the Ridge zones are still not included in proposed notifications.
The government has also approved protection for part of the Central Ridge, and another Southern Ridge phase is awaiting approval.
Officials say that encroachments, court cases and unfinished land-record work make the process difficult.
Courts and the National Green Tribunal have urged authorities to do more to protect the Ridge.
The government is proceeding in phases, so some areas are still awaiting a final decision.
The Delhi government approved a Phase-I notification covering 112.3 hectares of the Northern Ridge as reserved forest under Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927.
The notification excludes 8.61 hectares of demarcated land; records show 2,073.226 hectares across Delhi’s Ridge zones remain outside proposed notifications.
The government has also notified 673.32 hectares of the Central Ridge, while a 400.541-hectare Southern Ridge phase awaits the Lieutenant Governor’s approval.
The Forest department told the National Green Tribunal that encroachments, court cases and incomplete revenue proceedings are delaying final notifications.
A 2024 report and court and tribunal interventions have raised concerns about gaps in statutory protection and the pace of Ridge protection.
- Who
- The Delhi government and Delhi Forest department.
- What
- Approval of a Phase-I notification to designate 112.3 hectares of the Northern Ridge as reserved forest.
- When
- Friday; the article also refers to an October 2 approval.
- Where
- The Northern Ridge in Delhi.
- Why
- To provide formal legal protection to an ecologically sensitive area; the article says statutory reserved forest status is finalized through Section 20.
Case for phased notification
Concerns about delayed protection
Phased approach and exclusions
Case for phased notification
The Forest department says notifications are being handled in phases and cites encroachments, pending litigation and incomplete revenue proceedings as obstacles.
Concerns about delayed protection
The article reports that substantial demarcated Ridge land remains outside proposed notifications, while courts and the National Green Tribunal have urged stronger or faster protection.
- Northern Ridge approved
- 112.3 hectares under a Phase-I Section 20 notification
- Northern Ridge excluded
- 8.61 hectares of demarcated land
- Ridge land still outside proposed notifications
- 2,073.226 hectares across all Ridge zones, according to Delhi Ridge Management Board meeting minutes
- Central Ridge notified
- 673.32 hectares
- Southern Ridge phase awaiting approval
- 400.541 hectares, awaiting the Lieutenant Governor’s approval
- Applicable law
- Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927
- Reasons for delays cited by the Forest department
- Encroachments, pending litigation and incomplete revenue proceedings